Web-tension equipment for printing presses



A. J. cum: E'I'AL WEB TENSICN EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRBSSES meduarcn20, 1926 2 Shoots-Shut 1 Limifing Armmura I VENTORS Elana? Cline BY JwcobAHollandzr March 1 1927.

A. J. CLINE ET AL was TENSION EQUIPMENT FORMPRINTING mwsszs Filed March20. 1926 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 |NVENTORS I AllanJClins BYi fz AflallamkrUNIT-ED STATES 1 ,618,91s PATENT OFFICE.

man I. curl, or cmcaeo, AND moon a. HOLLANDER, or ronssr mum, rum 01s,

asamnona m cm: mc'rmc uanuralcrunme conramr, or cmcaoo, mm-

I018, A CORPORATION 01 ILLINOIS.

WEB-TENSION EQUIPMENT I03 IBINTING P3138818.

Application m arena so, 1926. s rial No. 98,138.

While the preferred embodiment of our invent-ion is shown as used inconnection with printing presses, it will be obvious that the nature ofour control devices is such that 8 they may be applied to other movinbodies uiring frictional control of speed. n United States LettersPatents Nos. 1,550,241 and 1,550,242, issued August 18, 1925, the broadinvention is disclosed of the 10 control ofweb-tension on printingpresses through the use of frictional straps or aprons pressed against.the moving surface of the web roll from which web paper is bein drawn tothe press; in the second of suc patents the invention was disclosed ofbroad means for automatically controlling the I of the web roll when thepress is slowed down or "subject to an emergency stop. The presentinvention also contemplates the use of friction Straps or aprons anddiscloses an improvement upon the specific'devices shown "in the abovenamed patents, being a specific and improved means for carrying suchinventions into, efl'ect.'

. Our invention is designedfer use particularly in connection with hi hspeed printing p' such as are u p in the printing of newspapers, whethersuch presses be of '30 'the unit type or the decker type. With the unittype of machine it is customary to use a roll stand earryin ,a pluralityof rolls of paper, which may be broughtsuccessively into ujseto supplyweb paper'to' the press;

with such rotatable rollstand it is possible aster without to effect aso-called flying h f h rom t e res stop ing the press, the we roll expiringroll when such' roll is nearly ex-. 40 hausted. In the decker typeof press it is. more usual-to em loy a. single roll of web paper for.each eck, although-'roll-stands' '45 ferred'form of our invention, wehave shown;

such'invention applied both .withand with- 'out rotatable roll standsginsuch drawings, like reference letters are applied; to similar featuresof construction throughout. .In the drawings, Fig'zfl represents adiagrammatic or schematic arrangementof circuits and in'sfiiumentalities' bywli'ichgourinvention may f r beize'arried intbefiectij i'g. 2 Showsour ining pasted to-the moving web of the.

vention applied to a unit type of press;- Fig. 3 shows such invention aplied to a 5 decker type of press with two ecks and a se arate controlfor each deck. I

eferring 'fir'st' to Fig. 2, there will be seen illustrated a roll stand2 carrying on the shaftl a three-arm spider 3, each arm of such 5 idercarrying a roll 4 of web paper. In such ig. 2 the lower right hand rollis having its web lfldrawn to ress and the rotation of such roll'iscontro led by the strap or apron 9 which is held at its lower end by thefixture 15,,while its upper end is connected directly or by thecontinuation 9 to and around a drum 79, or' other form of lever,suitably supported above the roll stand, such roller? 9 being geared orother- 7 wise connected to a tor ue-ortension motor 78. Such motor ispre erably a direct current, shunt-wound motor which mayhave aresistance in series with its armature to byone or more resistances..When an alternating current motor is used the control may be efiectedbyreactances, .as willbe apparent; 0 The torque of a motor depends on thearmature current and the magnetic flux from field-poles to armature;therefore, the regulation of the torque of our ltension motor may bevaried by varying the field-strength or the armature current or both,according to the preference of the designers. For purposes ofillustration we have herein shown a shunt-wound motor with control inthe shunt field circuit. Therefore, with the control applied asindicated in Fig. 2, any increase in field strength will increase theull on the apron 9 through the efl'ort of e motor to roll up theextension 9 of v the apron upon the drum 79. In. such are at times usedin connection .therewith.i In the attached figures, illustrating the prethe web sheet 4, such roller 22 rising or fallv ing according tovariations in-the tension on the web-sheet and thereby varying theposition of the contact arm 71, of such rheostat 0 back and forthbetween the limits 69 and 72. of such rheostat. In this manner we posesof such Fig.

have one automatic feature, tending to assist in maintaining a certainstandard of tension upon the apron 9. It is to be understood, however,that if it be desired to rely upon hand regulation for the maintenanceof such a standard of running tension, such automatic device C may havesubstituted for it an ordinary hand-operated rheostat, connected to themotor, however, ina similar manner, or, where the voltage is correct, Cmay be entirely omitted.

Fig. 3 illustrates a portion of a decker type of press, two rolls of web'paper 4 being illustrated, one for each of two decks. The web sheet 4%from each of these rolls passes over a roller 21 suitably supported, andthen under a movable roller 22,'similar to the roller 22 shown in Fig.2, and likewise connected to the movable arm of a rheostat C, soconnected to the motor 78 that any lessening of tension of the web sheet4 will result in a dropping of the end of the arm 71 carrying the roller22 and cutting out more or less of the resistance of the rheostat C,tending to increase the torque or tension of the motor 78 upon the drum79 and thence to the apron 9.

In connection with Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, we have spoken of the apron 9 asbeing a single apron, and the singular form of noun is used in theclaims, but it is to be understood that plurality of such straps oraprons may be employed as the user may find best suited to the characterof the article being controlled. It sometimes happens that rolls ofpaper are so irregular in shape that a single wide strap or apron 9would tend to give an irregular contact and that a plurality of narrowerstraps or aprons could be used to better efiect. However, this is merelya matter of engineering choice on the part ofthe designer or user of ourinvention.

We have not shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 the rheostats by means of which anautomatic increase in tension or torque may be secured from the motor 78 when the press is reduced. in speed or suddenly stopped. For the purp2 and Fig. 3, however, it will be understood that such resistances aremerely resistances additional to theresistances of rheostat C, being inseries therewithand with the shunt field of the motor 7 8;,as alreadynoted, this additional feature may be put in the armature circuit. It isalso to be understood that-in connection with such supplementaryresistances, means shall be employed controlled preferably by the actionof the press operator pushing upon his control buttons for decreasingthe press. speed or for giving an emergency stop to the press. Fig. 1'shows the schematic arrangement of the preferred form of our control,without burdening the diagram with more than the essentials of the. maincontrol of press speed applicable to our improvement.

There are several Well known motor drives for printing presses,involving one or more driving motors, usually of different sizes, withelaborate means for starting and stopping such main driving motors andincreas ing or decreasing their speed. It is common to have thesolenoids and other control features of such a control system mountedupon a control panel, the various commutations of circuits being securedthrough a 7.; master switch on such panel, the traveling contact arm ofsuch master switch being moved back and forth by a pilot motor orsolenoid connected therewith. It will be understood that when the pressis ,to be started a starting button is pushed by the press-man,resulting in the starting of the pilot motor and the moving of thecontact arm of the master switch across a series of commutating contactblocks which effects a gradual accel- S5 eration of the main drivingmotors of the press. Similarly, when the speed of the press is to bereduced, another or decrease button is pushed, resulting in a reversalof the pilot motor and a sweeping back of the contact arm of the masterswitch to gradually reduce the speed of the main driving motors andfinally stop them. There is usually, also,

another button, which permits the press-man to inch the main drivingmotor along by intermittent steps so-as to secure a movement of thepress which may be desirable when the press is being prepared forservice. There is usually another button known as the stop button whichwhen pressed, cuts the current from the main driving motor and applies abrake, while at the sametimc the master switch 'goes to the offposition.

As the web-rolls of paper weigh a ton, more or less, and are normallyoperated at speeds which will supply approximately 1200 feet of webpaper to the press per minute, such web rolls have a high momentum. Whenthe press'speed is decreased, or the press is brought to asudden stop,there is the natural tendency for the press ,or press room to be floodedwith paper from the over-rumiing roll, unless controlled by efiicientmeans. Our invention discloses an improved manner of securing thecontrol of such web rolls when the ress speed is to be decreased or thepress is'to be stopped. and Fig. 1 shows the essential elements of suchapparatus. In such Fig. 1, we have a torque or tension motor with anarmature 12 78 and a shunt field 75. In series with the armature 78 is aresistance 77 for limiting the amount of current normally passingthrough such armature which, it will be understood, belongs to the.motor applying tension to the aprons 9 of Figs. 2 and 3. In series withthe shunt field 75 of this tension motor are two sets of rheostats, Cand E; rheostat C may be either hand operated or automaticallycontrolled, as already defetuses is to limit 0. control the torque ortension -of the motor during the ordinary or normal operation of thepress. The .supplementary rheostat E is of such value. that when aortion of it only is utilized-the balance 0 its resistance and all ofthe resistance of the rheostat C being short circuited.the strength ofthe shuntfield is such as to increase the torque or tension of themotor, and therefore of the apron, to a degree which will prevent theweb sheet 4 from over-running when the speed of the press is beingdecreased. Likewise, when a still less resistance of the rheostat E isutilized-all the balance thereof and the whole resistance of rheostat Cbeing short circ'uitedthe strength of the field of the motor shall be soincreased. as to prevent the web sheet 4 from over-,running when thepress is suddenl sto ped. Fig. 1 shows how we prefer to e ect this setofconditions, this being only an exemplification of our invention, whichwe do not' wish to limit to this specific form.

The armature 78 5 shown across the line from X to Y, with thelimitingresistance 77 in serieswithit. The shunt field 75 is also shownas across the line, having in nection to the sto series, with itresistances G and E; this shunt field circuit may be introduced-bymoving the rheostat. handle 71 .from' the idle contact, 69 to the activecontacts of the rheostat C. On this diagram are contacts 0 representingmaster switch contacts which are only closed when the press is stoppedand the master switch arm has been brought to the off position. It willbe noted from this diagram that when the contacts are closed, one of theresults is to actuate the coil ofthe. low voltage relay LV by way of thesto push button. One eifect of energizing t e coil of the low voltagerelay IN is to close the upper contacts LV of thelow voltage switch andestablish conp button with independence ofthe master switch contacts 0The normally closed stop button furnishes current to the winding of theswitch B, as shown, the efi'ect of'this normal energizing of the coil Bbeing to open its switch contacts 7 4' which extend from the positiveside of the line (X) toa selected int 74 on the rheostat E. Regardingthis circuit it will be seen that when the stop button is ressed, toopen the circuit to 10, the coil will be de-energized and the switch Bwill be closed, sending Epositive current from X to 74 on rheostat is toshort circuit all of the rheostat C and all of the resistance ofrhcostat E fromv the rheostat C to the point 74; this action results inalarge increase in current through the shunt field circuit, incream'ngthe torque of 'the motor and applying a much greater tension" upon .theapron 9 which presses against the active roll of web paper, preventingan over-running of the roll and a consequent flooding of the room orpress with paper. i

Fig. 1 also shows a second push button- (marked decrease), the pressureof which closes the contacts at 70 and not only actuates the pilot motorto swing the master switch arm back towards the ofi position by -wa ofthe line 7, but also energizes the coil 0 the ,switch A. switch A toclose at the contac 73', establishing a circuit from X to the selectedpoint 73 of the rheostat E, short circuiting the rheostat C and so muchof theresistance of rheostat E, as lies between C and' the point 73; theeffect-of this is to increase the currentflow through the shunt field ofthe torque motor, causing the torque to be increased and the tension orpull upon the apron 9 to be increased to such a degree as wlll preventtheactive web, roll from overrunning while the speed of the press isbeingreduced. When the stop button is actuated, the circuit through thelow voltage This causes the 1 relay LV is broken resulting in theopening of the upper contacts LV of the low voltage back to the oilposition. This guaranteesthat although the sto button may be onlypressed instantaneous y, it nevertheless acts IOQ' to de-energize thelow voltage relay and I energize thepilot motor to bring the switch armback to the off position. This means 7 gain started until that the pressmay not be a the master contacts are closedat 0 It willalso be seen thatwhenever the pressstopa' either by the action of the stop button or asthe final effectof actuat' crease. button, the short circuiting of theresistances in rheostats C and E 'by the the deswitches A and Bisremoved and-the normal running tension set h arm 71 of rheostat C isre-established. t will also be recognized that if all tension is to beremoved from the apron 9as may bedesired whena new roll of web paper18.120 be insertedall that is necessary 1s to o the shuntfield circuitby moving open contact 69 (by hand or electrically, or otherwise, theprecise means not. being essential to the practiceof our invention) ofthe rheostat G, orsome other. switch placed in that circuit for thepurpose may be opened; when it is desired tore-establishthe normalrunning tension on the a'pron'9, all

the arm 71 "to the that is necessary is to close such switch andre-establish the desired shunt and conditions.

What we claim is the following 1 1. A web-tension equipment or printingof paper from which web is to be drawn to press, a'tension motor actingupon the apron to supply a continuous strain thereto for applying abraking force upon the surface of the web-roll, and means for regulatingthe tension applied by the motor.

2. A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap orfriction apron pressing against the surface ofa web-roll of paper fromwhich web is to be drawn to press, a tension motor connected to suchstrap or apron and serving to apply a con tinuous braking force on thesurface of the web-roll, and means under the control of .the pressmanfor determining the normal standard of tension to be applied through themotor.

3. A variable braking device for ai'otating member of continuallychanging diameter, comprising a friction belt engaging the surface ofsuch member and a tension motor actuating the friction belt to maintaina normal retarding effort irrespective of the changing diameter oft-therotary member. p

4. A Variable braking device for a rotating member of continuallychanging diameter, comprising a friction belt engaging the surface ofsuch member, a tension motor actuating the friction belt to maintain anormal retarding effort irrespective of the changing diameter of therotary member and means for ad]ust1ng such retarding effort.

5. A variable braking device for a rotating member-of continuallychanging diameter comprising a friction belt engaging the surface ofsuch member, a tension motor actuating the friction belt to maintain anormal retarding effort irrespective of the changing diameter of therotary member, and means for increasing the tension of the friction beltwhen the rotating member is to be decelerated or broughtto a stop.

6. A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap orfriction apron pressing against the surface of a web-roll of paper fromwhich web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drum to which suchstrap or friction apron is attached, a tension motor connected to suchdrum and continuously tending to rotate the same, thereto thepress, arotatable drum to which such strap or friction apron is attached, atension motor connected to'..- s'uch drum and continuously tending torotate the same, thereby putting the strap or friction apron understress to apply a braking force on the surface of the web-roll, andautomatic means for regulating the tension applied by the motor.

8. A webtension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap orfriction apron pressing against the surface of a Webroll of paper fromwhich web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drum to which suchstrap or friction apron is attached, a tension motor connected to suchdrum and continuously tending to rotate the same, thereby putting thestrap or friction apron under stress to apply a braking force on thesurface of the web-roll, means for setting the standard of tension to besecured during normal operation of the press, and means for regulatingthe amount of tension when the press is to be stopped.

9. A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a stra orfriction apron pressing against the sur'ace of a web-roll of paper fromwhich web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drum to which suchstrap or friction apron is attached, a tension motor connected to suchdrum and continuously tending to rotate the same, thereby putting thestrap or friction apron under stress to apply a braking force on thesurface of the web-roll, means for setting the standard of tension to besecured during normal operation of thespress, means for regulating theamount of tension when the speed of the press is reduced and furthermeans for still further regulating the amount of tension when the pressis to be ,stopped.

10. A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap orfriction apron pressing against the surface of a web-roll of paper fromwhich web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drum to which suchstrap or friction apron is attached, a tension motor connected to suchdrum and continuously tending to rotate the same, thereby putting thestrap or friction apron under stress to apply a braking force on thesurface of'the Web-roll, means for automatically regulating the tensionof the motor for the -maintenance of a desiredstandard during the normaloperation of the press, and means for increasing the amount of tensionto be applied by the motor when the press is to be stopped.

11. A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap orfriction apron pressing against the surface of-a Web-roll of paper fromwhich web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drum to which suchstrap 1 or friction apronis attacl1e'd,"a tension motor connected tosuch drum and continuously tending to rotate the same, thereby puttingthe strap or frlction apron under stress to aptension of themotor forthe maintenance of roll, means or automatically regulating the a desiredstandard during the normal operapron pressing against the sur ation ofthe press, automatic means for increasing the amount of tension when thespeed of the press is reduced and. further automatic means for stillfurther regulating the amount of tension when the press is to bestopped. 4

' 12.- A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strapor friction apron pressing against the surface of a web-roll of paperfrom which web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drum to whichsuch strap or-friction apron is attached, a tension motor connected tosuch drumand continuously tending to rotatethe same, thereby putting thestrap or friction apron under stress to apply a braking force on thesurface of the web-roll, guiding rollers around which the web passes onits way to press, a pivoted roller pressing against the web andresponding to variations inthe tautness of suc web, and means controlledby such pivoted roller for regulating the tension applied by the motorduring the normal oper ation of the press.

13. A web-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a stra orfriction apron pressin against the sur ace of a webroll of paper omwhich web is to be drawn to the press, a rotatable drumto which suchstrap or friction'apron is attached, a tension motor connected to suchdrum and continuously' tending to rotate the same, thereby putting thestrap or friction apron under stress to apply a brakin force on thesurface ,of the web-roll, gui 'ng rollers around which the web passeson' its way to press.

'a pivoted roller pressing against the web and reponding. to variationsin the tautness of such web, and a rheostat controlled by such pivotedroller for regulating the tension applied by the motor during the normaloperation of the press.

14. Azweb-tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strafp orfriction ace of a web roll of paper from which web is to be ,drawn tothe press, a rotatable drum to which such strap .or friction apronis'attached, a-tension motor connected to such drum and continuouslytending to rotate the same, thereby putting-the strap or friction apron,under stress to apply a brakin force on the surface of the web-roll guig rollers around which theweb passes on its we. to ress, apivotedzroller pressing against t e we -jand responding to variationsTm, the tautness. of such web, a d a 'rheostat in the circuit of anelement of the tension motor controlled by such pivoted roller forregulating the when the torque exerted by the motor during the normaloperation of the press.

15. A web-tension equlpment for printing I presses comprising electricmotors for driving the press, a master switch for regulating the speedof such motors, a pilot motive- ,device for driving the arm of themaster switch to increase ,or decrease the pressspeed, means foractuating the pilot motivedevice, a strap or friction apron contacting awith the surface of the web roll from which web paper is being drawn tothe press, a

roller to which such strap or apron is attached, a tension motorconnected to such roller and continuously tending to hold the strap orapron under stress, resistance in the circuit of an element of suchmotor, means for adjusting a part of such resistance to maintain anormal state of tension on the strap or apron, a switch forshort-circuiting a part of the resistance to regulate the torque of themotor when the press-speed is diminished, means for actuating suchswitch press-speed is to be diminished, a second switch forshort-circuiting more of theresistance, and means for actuating suchsecond switch when the press is to be stopped.

belt being secured at one end, a rotatable drum over which passes theother end of the belt, a motor to rotate such 'drum and means 16. In aweb-roll control mechanism for I for controlling the motor to increasethe tension of the belt when the press is to be stopped.

17. Means for automatically preventing the over-running of the web-sheetin a print-' ing press, comprising a web-roll sugport, a friction beltengaging the-surface o a roll carried by the support, said belt beingsecured at one end, a rotatable drum over which passes-the other end.gjfthe belt, a

motor to rotate such drum and means connected with the controlcircuits'of the press to cause the motor to increase the belt tensionthrough the rotation of the drum when such circuits are set todecelerate the press.

. 18. In a web-roll control mechanism for printing, presses, thecombination of a webroll support,a friction belt engaging the surface ofa roll carried by the support, said belt being secured at one end anarranged to be taken 'upeat the other end, a drum over which the Itpasses and means for rotating the drum to cause an increased pressure ofthe belt on the roll surface when the press is to be stopped.

